Hows it going guys, I am new to this forum and new to Visalia. My name is Steven and I have a 04 WJ Laredo (stock for now). I've owned it for a hair over a year and love it to death. I just moved to Visalia from the Central Coast and VERY eager to do some wheeling, especially since I am now in the ranks of the unemployed (for now, long story). I don't have much trail experience with this vehicle under my built and really want to fix this. Are there any other members here from the surrounding areas? Where are some good places to wheel?

Blkdvll

01-31-2009 10:19 PM

Anyone out there?

puttputt56

02-01-2009 09:37 AM

Central Valley

I am just about 45 minutes south of you in Bakersfield California (Bakersfield Trailblazers 4x4 Club). There should be a lot of places to go just east of you in the mountains there. There should also be some 4x4 clubs in your area also. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce to see if they have a list of Car Clubs etc. Since you just arrived from the East Coast I hope you are prepared for the Summer Heat we have here in Central Valley of California. Have fun and I hope I helped you a little!! puttputt56

Blkdvll

02-01-2009 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puttputt56
(Post 6479300)

I am just about 45 minutes south of you in Bakersfield California (Bakersfield Trailblazers 4x4 Club). There should be a lot of places to go just east of you in the mountains there. There should also be some 4x4 clubs in your area also. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce to see if they have a list of Car Clubs etc. Since you just arrived from the East Coast I hope you are prepared for the Summer Heat we have here in Central Valley of California. Have fun and I hope I helped you a little!! puttputt56

Central Coast = San Luis Obispo County.

I've explored a little to the east off of the 198 and all I can find are locked gates. I've also browsed the internet for 4x4 clubs around here and found a forum that has a couple on it but they really don't seem to be that active, and by the looks of the pictures, my stock WJ wouldn't stand a chance (even after I get my 2" BB and 245 AT's)

igofshn

02-02-2009 11:31 AM

Lock and Low is a club in Visalia. They have some members that are very active and some that do nothing. Good club.

puttputt56

02-04-2009 11:24 AM

Central Valley

Sorry I missed that, I thought you had moved out from the East Coast my miss take. Did you find out any information regarding places to go etc. puttputt56

Blkdvll

02-04-2009 11:35 AM

Yah, slowly finding more. I subscribed to Trails.com which lead me to checking one out. On the way I stopped at a ranger station and picked up a map which lead me to checking out another one on the same trip. Nothing real special, first trail easily being a 1 and the second being a 2 which had a couple little trails wondering off of the 4ish nature BUT I wasn't able to really explore those being I was by myself.

All in all it was fun. Great views and it got me out of the house.

Just need to meet people around here that are into wheeling :( I hate moving to new places :(

puttputt56

02-04-2009 06:50 PM

Central Valley

Glad to hear you have found a few places to go and try out! You will find some people in that area that enjoy doing just that and will make a few friends in the process. Moving is a bummer! puttputt56

ReconZJ

02-05-2009 09:47 PM

Nice to see another Grand getting off-road! A stocker will do quite a bit, but you've got to watch your rockers and underside until you add on some protection. Hope you at least have tow hooks in front, and a receiver hitch on the rear (Warn makes a receiver shackle that will slide right in for a rear tow point) if you don't have the rear hook.

Charles A. Wells has some great trail guides; his "Guide to Northern California Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails" describes many areas around Visalia (and south to Bakersfield) with ratings from easy to difficult. The companion "Guide to Southern California Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails" includes some of the Death Valley trails as well as all those on south to the border.

This is a good place to hang out, and the members I've wheeled with from here are cool. There are also some sites more specific to Grands, so feel free to shoot me a pm if you want to chat about that.

Not many real 4x4 trails in the area that are open right now. There are lots of trails up in the Nat Forest areas of Sequoia, but they are closed till spring. Most of these can be run in 2wd, but it a great area to see. when Open go to Park Ridge trail, out of Grant Grove and the Buck rock trail, in Big Meadows. Also Huckleberry trail. This time of the year the only thing available are the trails off of HWY180, before the park entrance, You could run from Hwy180 cross country to Pine Flat Lake. Bunch of trails north end of Pine Flat.

Not many real 4x4 trails in the area that are open right now. There are lots of trails up in the Nat Forest areas of Sequoia, but they are closed till spring. Most of these can be run in 2wd, but it a great area to see. when Open go to Park Ridge trail, out of Grant Grove and the Buck rock trail, in Big Meadows. Also Huckleberry trail. This time of the year the only thing available are the trails off of HWY180, before the park entrance, You could run from Hwy180 cross country to Pine Flat Lake. Bunch of trails north end of Pine Flat.

I came across a jeeper at the gas station and asked him if he knew of any close trails. He mentioned Dry Creek Rd. I've traveled it a few times now and can't find anything that doesn't have large locked gates?

If you want to wheel anytime just shoot me a message!

puttputt56

02-06-2009 08:14 PM

Central Valley

I was looking through the CA4WDC list of clubs and found only two in your area that are members of CA4WDC:

Sierra Road Runners and Lock & Low 4WDC. Sorry it doesn't list a contact number for either of them. puttputt56

4point

02-06-2009 08:36 PM

I'm up north of Fresno. The Kingsburg Snow Run is coming up soon check the CA4WDC web site.

93gc40

02-06-2009 09:49 PM

Quote:

Same to you. Mine is pretty easy to spot, it's either EXCESSIVELY dirty, or EXCESSIVELY clean. I'm a detailer so it's either going to be covered in mud top to bottom front to back or brand new shinny

Well that pic is the cleanest mine ever gets.. Washing the Jeep, to me, means hitting the windows with some windex.

iochixdiggitoi

02-10-2009 01:06 PM

I'm up in Fresno, and the only place I've gone lately was Bald Mt. It's up a little past shaver. It's usually not too bad, but it was a little more difficult in the snow. So if you're still looking, it's open! It's on Trails.com so you can probably find it easy enough.